Biotechnology program in aquaculture grosses outstanding results

The aquacultural industry has grossed outstanding results in the application of biotechnology and recognizes it as key for sustainable development of aquatic breeding, fishing, and food processing, a workshop has heard.

The workshop was held on November 5, in the central coast province of Khanh Hoa's Nha Trang City by the Department of Science, Technology, and Environment in coordination with the Institute of Aquaculture Research III.

Participants at the event evaluated the implementing results of a government biotechnology program in genetic selection and breeding of technology as well as in environment and aquatic diseases in the period 2008-2020.

They all agreed on the importance of aquatic biotechnology saying it is regarded as a key for sustainable development of the breeding, fishing, and seafood production industries.

The workshop also stressed the importance of biotechnology in aquaculture saying it has helped boost the growth of the aquacultural species, increase the nutritional quality of aquatic products, and effectively manage natural aquatic resources.

In addition, biotechnology is also applied in many activities such as synthesis of reproductive stimulating hormones, transferring genes for the aquatic breeds, creating gene banks, and managing origin and quality of the breeds.

According to Ms. Nguyen Giang Thu, Deputy Director of Department of Science, Technology and Environment (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), in the period 2008-20, the program on agricultural and fishery biotechnology has been focusing on 89 tasks of applying science and technology in the fisheries sector.

As part of the program, 89 subjects and seven experimental production projects have been conducted with a total cost of more than VND282 billion.

“Up to now, 71 tasks have been finished and accepted. The results have been positive in areas such as genetics and genetic selective breeding, conservation and exploitation of aquatic genetic resources, environmental management and aquatic diseases,” said Thu.

Aquatic breeding for commercial purposes has typically got a rapid high growth for catfish and seabass. Breeding of tiger shrimp and white leg shrimp has recorded good results with high growth and productivity in different geographical areas.

In addition, a high-tech process has been built up for the production of different species of fish such as the female rainbow trout, seabass, red tilapia, and the blue lobster has also been successfully built up.

Vaccines have also been successfully completed for cobia, tilapia while other microbiological products have been provided for intensive shrimp and fish breeding, according to the official.

In 2008, The Prime Minister approved the program on the development and application of biotechnology in the fisheries sector to the year 2020 with the aim to promote the development and application of biotechnology to serve the industrialization and modernization of the country.

The main objectives and contents of the program had been focusing on applying aquatic biotechnology in the fields of genetic selection, breeding, environment and aquatic diseases.